30.09.2022
UN calls for green and sustainable tourism for climate
Photo by: Fotokot197 / iStock
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said the tourism industry, severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, is gradually recovering. In response, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for increased investment in green and sustainable tourism, creating new jobs and ensuring that these activities benefit local communities.
“Governments, businesses and consumers must align their tourism practices with the Sustainable Development Goals and climate goals to keep global warming within 1.5 °C. The very survival of the industry and of many tourism destinations, such as small island developing states, depends on it,” said the UN chief.
According to a UNWTO report for World Tourism Day, the industry is on the one hand very vulnerable to climate change, while at the same time contributing to its continuation.
The tourism sector suffers from extreme weather events, pollution, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity and other climate-related challenges, the study said.
A “green” transformation of the tourism industry is not only necessary for the planet, but also for business — for the sake of greater sustainability and competitiveness.
According to an earlier UN study, travel-related transport will account for 5.3% of the world’s greenhouse gases by 2030.
The report says that more than 20 billion leisure journeys are made each year around the world today. Of these, 18.8 billion are made domestically and 1.2 billion abroad.
By 2030, there will be over 35.5 billion domestic trips and 1.8 billion overseas trips.
The rush to travel is fuelling an increase in air and rail travel, as well as the development of road networks and new sea-cruise destinations. All of this has the potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Experts calculate that under the current scenario, CO2 emissions from transport would rise from 1.59 million tonnes in 2016 to 1.99 million tonnes in 2030.
The report’s authors call for this problem to be solved by developing environmentally friendly modes of transport and introducing green innovations in transport.
Cover photo: Remus Kotsell / iStock
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